Law school will rename its atrium after benefactor pleads guilty to wire fraud

Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law is planning to remove the name of benefactor William Conour from its atrium after the lawyer pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud on Monday.

Conour was accused of diverting $4.5 million in client money for personal and business expenses, report the National Law Journal and the Indianapolis Star. Appearing in court on Monday, Conour said he wasn’t sure if the government figures were accurate they were mostly correct, according to the Indianapolis Star account.

Asked to explain his actions, Conour told U.S. District Judge Richard Young it was “a matter of cash flow when the economy was tight.”

Indiana University announced in a statement that trustees would be asked to approve removal of Conour’s name from the atrium at the Indianapolis law school. The school also intends to give $450,000 in donated funds from Conour to a compensation fund for his victims.